Understanding accessibility

Accessibility refers to the extent to which a product or service can be used by as many people as possible. In this context, accessibility means designing applications so that people with disabilities or impairments can use the applications on a BlackBerry® device.

When you design your BlackBerry device application, consider the following users:

blind people

visually impaired people

colorblind people

deaf people

hearing impaired people

speech impaired people

people
with motor impairments

people
with cognitive or learning disabilities

Like any other group of users, people with disabilities or impairments have needs, wants, and expectations about the behavior of applications. Some of the reasons to make your applications accessible to as many users as possible include the following possible benefits:

Social responsibility: Making it easier for people with disabilities or impairments to benefit from the functionality that your application provides can promote equality.

Market share: Ensuring that your application can be used by people with
disabilities or impairments increases the number of people who can purchase
and benefit from your application.

Compliance: Addressing the applicable guidelines and
regulatory requirements (such as Section 508 of
the Rehabilitation Act in the United States) that dictate that
your application must be accessible by people with disabilities or impairments can allow you to enter certain markets.